"What will we do now?" Temari asked Shikamaru.

"I don't know," he said. "What a drag, my mother would kill me."

Her face turned stone cold. "You do not want this child?" She stood up and walked towards the table. "If that is the case, I would deal with it."

Shikamaru immediately pulled her hand, and stood behind her. He hugged her from behind, his hands enveloping her.

"Of course I want this child," he said softly. "I am just too surprised."

"I am surprised as well," she said. "Who knew the medication failed?"

Shikamaru nodded in agreement. It was customary for courtesans to drink contraceptive medicines, to prevent pregnancy, which would render them unavailable for work.

"Don't worry," he said, kissing the back of her ear gently. "I will come up with something," he added. "To get you out of here, I can't let my child be born in this place."

Temari nodded, and turned around. She leaned forward and placed her forehead onto his.

He closed his eyes and hugged her tighter; she wrapped her arms around him.

What he did not see was the tiny smile she had on her face.

"Everything went according to the plan," she thought to herself.


Hinata was walking around the streets of Konoha with her servant. She did not inform her father about her little outing – he would not have allowed it.

She needed fresh air, the high walls of the Hyuga mansion was suffocating, and she was bored with all the books she read, which she read repeatedly.

The sun was slowly sliding down on the west, its brilliant orange hover above her head. She smiled at the lovely sight. Her servant nervously reminded her that she should go home.

"The master would be outraged if he doesn't see you at home, Hinata–sama."

Hinata shook her head. "Don't worry, he won't be back until late night."

Suddenly, a few thugs came out of nowhere.

"Look at this pretty girl," a bald man, who appeared to be their leader smiled deviously. "Come here pretty." They approached the two girls slowly like a pack of wolves, closing in towards their prey.

Hinata began to shake in fear, her servant stood in front of her.

"Leave us alone," she cried. "Or you will be sorry!"

The thugs laughed. "You will be sorry you bitch!" One of them slapped the servant.

The leader pulled Hinata towards him and took a sniff. "Hmmm you smell good," his coarse fingers soothed her hand. "Your hand smooth as silk as well," he said. "I bet your family would pay a good price to have you back."

Hinata shook her head wildly. "Help!" She shrieked. The thugs laughed again.

"No one is here to help you –" the bald leader could barely finished his sentence before he was struck down onto the floor.

"Leave that lady alone," A loud voice yelled. "You wretched thugs, arrest them!"

Hinata panted, kneeling on the floor. A man leapt off the horse.

"Are you okay?" He held her up, she locked eyes with her saviour, only to realize that he is the Prince of Konoha, Naruto Uzumaki.
She nodded. "Your Highness," she dipped her head. "Thank you."

Naruto smiled at her, staring into the milky violent eyes with his deep vortexes of blue.

"You should be home by now," he said. "It's not safe for girls like you to be out at this time." He hopped onto his horse and reach down for her hand.

"Here, I will send you home," he grinned.

She timidly reached out and took his hand. He pulled her up and together they rode back to the Hyuga mansion.

"How can you be out on your own!" Hinata could hear her father shouting from the main hall, she looked at the ground as she followed Naruto into the main hall.

Her father immediately warmed up after he saw Naruto walking in with his daughter.

"Your highness!" He cried and knelt on the ground. "What honour does my family have that brings you here?"

He scratched his head. "Oh so you are Lord Hyuga's daughter, Hinata."

She nodded timidly. "Yes, your highness."

Naruto had a few words with Lord Hyuga before he left the mansion.

He seemed very happy afterwards, the smile on his face scared Hinata a little.

"The moon is especially round tonight," he murmured with satisfaction.


Temari was summoned to Konan's chamber.

She walked slowly as she planned what to say to her. Surely Shikamaru must have asked to purchase her freedom. Konan is not stupid, this she was sure off. She would have demanded a high price for her. She wondered why she was summoned.

"Here you are," Konan said as she walked into the chamber. She dipped her head down.

Konan smiled coldly. "There is no need for such courtesy, Temari." Then she shot a cold glance. "Or should I say, Princess Temari of Suna."

A cold chill went down Temari's spine. She said nothing.

"Are you not surprised?" Konan smiled. "Take a seat."

Temari obliged and sat down in front of her, avoiding her gaze.

Konan laughed. "Don't worry, I haven't told anyone, not even your Nara lover."

She added. "How deeply in love he was when he came and asked for your freedom," she smiled mischeviously. " You must have a really tight grip around him."

Temari looked up at her, no longer the way a courtesan looks at her master, but the way a princess looks at her subject.

"What do you want?" She said coldly. She assumed that Konan had kept her alive for a good reason.

"My, my, Sasori was right." She remarked. "You really is a princess of Suna, the embodiment of the desert itself – beautiful but deadly."

Konan poured herself a cup of tea. "I am not interested in any country feud you have," she said blandly. "I am also not sure why you would devote yourself to the Nara heir, I do not care. All I care, all the Akatsuki care is profit."

Temari was alerted. She vaguely remembered hearing about the Akatsuki – an international Yakuza group that engage in all kinds of business.

She grinned coldly. "And what a bargain it is to get a princess for just three thousand pieces of gold."

Temari's face remained cold. "I am sure you are aware of the situation right now," she said. "A wrong move would be the end for both of us."

Konan did not flinch. "I do not ask for much, princess." She began. "We the Akatsuki just want to expand our business. Lately, the Konoha government was close on our trail, trying to uproot our forces in Konoha, I hope that you would be able to provide us valuable information about their activites, so we could … minimize our losses."

Temari smiled coldly. "You are hoping that I would retrieve information so that you can avoid being caught."

Konan nodded. "And you can have your freedom."

Temari stared at her. "And you promise to keep the secret?"

Konan nodded solemnly. "You have my word," she dipped her head. "Princess."

Temari stood and turned her back. "Shikamaru Nara would come tonight with a carriage, ask your man to pack my belongings. Consider that you have a friend on the other side."

Konan gave a satisfactory smile.

"We will be in touch, your Highness."


Shikamaru was sitting in the carriage when Temari emerged from the backdoor of the Manor. Two male servants loaded a few boxes of cargo onto the cart behind.

"I have paid Konan for your contract," he said. "Now you are free to come with me."

Temari leaned onto his shoulder. He did not flinch but she could sense anxiety oozing from him.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"It's nothing," he said. "It's just that Shiho … she is also pregnant, probably later than you did."

Temari did not respond to him, she just leaned onto him. In her mind, she was plotting - something has to be done.

There must only be one Nara heir, if she is to find her place in the hierarchy of the family.

She soothed her slightly round abdomen and smiled mischievously.


It has been a few months since Neji proposed to her.

Tenten walked along a mud path of the countryside. After her small wedding ceremony with Neji, the Hyuga main family was furious and reduced the allowance of his household to practically nil. Tenten knew that clearly – she decided to spend as little as possible in household expenses. Every morning, she would wake up early to go buy fresh greens from the farmers themselves.

As she strolled along the path, she heard something slithering up behind her. She was alerted, but it was too late. Pain struck her sharply – a snake had bitten her on the ankle. She shouted in pain.

She heard someone walking to her slowly. "Yuki, go and help that girl up." She heard a woman's voice. "Baa-san, please ask your husband to go find the doctor."

She approached Tenten, who was lying on the ground. "You will be fine, hang in there."

The lady was tall, with a round abdomen. Her hair shone like golden threads under the morning sun, her eyes green as emerald.

"You are in safe hands," she smiled at her. "My name is Temari."


Author's note:

Here's another chapter, hope that things are starting to unravel for you guys.

Enjoy! Read and review!

V.S.V

xoxo